At a town hall meeting Thursday night, state Sen. Ted Gaines said the future of the Republican Party will depend on its abilities to reach out to minorities, as changing demographics continue to shift and shape the state's political makeup.

"We're trying to figure out as the Republican Party how are we going to reach out because we can't be a regional party. We'll be extinct if we don't have the ability to reach out to Latinos, to Asians, to young women," Gaines told a friendly audience that turned out to hear him at the Shasta County Board of Supervisors chambers.

It was his first town hall in Redding since his re-election last fall in the newly drawn 1st Senate District.

The GOP lawmaker also talked about gun rights and new legislation, efforts to thwart the fire prevention fee, education and water rights.

In attendance were about 20 residents, a few of them Shasta County leaders and at least one high school student.

He told them because of his party's minority status in the California Legislature, there is a "frontal assault" by Democrats on a smattering of issues ranging from gun rights to taxation.

He said two bills related to block the fire prevention fee will be heard in the next few weeks. The first would exempt property owners who qualify for Medi-Cal from having to pay the fee. The second would exempt those who already pay into a fire district for protection.

On gun control legislation, he said he has no problems with waiting periods and called for keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill who are dangerous.

Gaines, who earlier this year announced he is contemplating a congressional run, said after the meeting he continues to weigh his options in a potential bid for the 6th Congressional District and may make a decision in 30 to 60 days.

Earlier, it was expected he might make a run for the 7th Congressional District, which Democrat Ami Bera won by a slim 4 percent margin, denying the incumbent, Dan Lungren, a sixth term.

"I still have to make a trip back to Washington, D.C. I want to speak to supporters. I want to speak to the party. I want to speak to the Republican delegation," Gaines said. "I think I could win the seat. We shouldn't have lost it in the last election cycle. It's just that the circumstances were very unique."

His decision also will depend on whether there are other Republicans who enter the race, he said.

The district, which covers Sacramento and some suburbs, is currently represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui.

Gaines was hopeful about Republicans' prospects in 2014, saying the party was "caught completely on our heels" in 2012 with President Barack Obama at the top of the Democratic ticket and Propositions 30 and 32 — the initiatives that sought to raise the sales tax and cripple union powers in state politics, respectively — on the ballot.

Turnout will be much lower during the midterm elections, and Republicans have a better record than Democrats at turning out to the polls, he said.

Republicans just have to be better at figuring out what the rules and new laws are to be competitive in the upcoming election cycle.

Toria Denofrio, a 17-year-old high school student from Redding, identifies herself as a Democrat. But wants to know what the GOP will do to reach her age group.

"They need to be less polarized is the big thing. We live in a very conservative area like Shasta County. It seems like, ‘Oh we let everyone have whatever gun they want. Gay marriage is totally wrong. It should not be legalized.' That is really unappealing when they're that polar and unwilling to compromise," she said.

Her comments were similar to ones made at the meeting by a D.C. transplant.

Gaines, however, countered that the top 1 percent in the state pay 37 percent of the taxes, and he is concerned that the regulatory climate is driving business out of the state.

He told the audience that party principles won't change but it must do more to bring new folks under the banner.

One such program is the Grow Elect, which trains and support Republican Latinos running for office in the state.

In the past two election cycles, the program helped elect 33 candidates to a local government seat.

The party next focuses on Asian voters and candidates, he said.

Cheri Beck, a former candidate for county supervisor, asked about the chances of undoing the state's new primary system, which allows voters to vote for any candidate, regardless of party.

No chance, Gaines responded.

Beck said people in the area are upset they are having to choose between two candidates from the same party. In Shasta County, it mostly means choosing between two Republicans.

"That's kind of hard for them to accept," she said, disappointed that in the last election it led to some infighting because of how some races shaped up, namely in the 1st Assembly District where Republicans Brian Dahle and Rick Bosetti squared off. "The 11th commandment is do not criticize your fellow Republican."